By Chris Robinson
It’s hard to believe that featherweight contender Bernabe Concepcion is just 24 years old when taking in the rollercoaster ride he has been on the past few years.
Having turned professional on February 14th of 2004, Concepcion has already twice for a world title and finds himself with his back to the wall heading into his March 10th date with unbeaten Miguel ‘Mikey’ Garcia in San Juan, Puerto Rico on the Showtime-televised undercard of the Orland Salido-Juan Manuel Lopez rematch.
Garcia, younger brother to accomplished trainer Robert, has a lot of buzz behind him and is a heavy favorite heading into the fight. And while Concepcion has managed to go just a modest 2-3 in his last five bouts, he is coming off of a spirited split-decision victory over former amateur champion and silver medalist Aaron Garcia this past October that was a far cry from his listless, plodding points defeat to journeyman Juan Carlos Martinez five months prior in Las Vegas.
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Training at the Elorde Boxing Gym in Quezon City in the Philippines, Concepcion has linked up with his trainer from his old school days, Benjie Gonzales.
Those close to Concepcion claim to never have seen him so focused, as he even took the initiative of renting an apartment just a block away from the gym to ensure that his life would revolve around training and nothing else in the weeks leading up the Garcia fight.
The sparring sessions behind closed doors are also said to be brisk and for Concepcion, as always, he is keeping an upbeat attitude despite another dangerous task being just weeks away.
“I am glad that I was given this opportunity to fight a great fighter like Mikey Garcia,” Concepcion stated through an interpreter. “For that I am preparing for this fight to be the best that I can be.”
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